Vehicle-top.



- W. C. SWEET.

VEHICLE TOP.

APPLICATIQN FILED NOV. :1; 1914.

Patented May 30,1916.

WEBB C. SWEET, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA VEHICLE-TOP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known .that I, WEBB C. SWEET, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Tops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicle tops and particularly to convertible tops for automobil es in which provision is made for attaching or supplying-an inclosure which will convert the automobile from an ordinary open vehicle to a closed vehicle with glass or other transparent panels so that the said automobile will resemble a limousine.

An object of this invention is to provide novel means whereby the transparent inclo-sing members may be moved from their normal positions to open the inclosure and permit ventilation thereof, the said means being also carried by the door operated parts of the inclosure.

With the foregoing and other objectsin view, the invention consists in the details of construction, and in the arrangement and combination of part to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in Figure 1 illustrates a View in elevation of a fragment of an automobile body with the invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 illustrates a sectional view of a fragment of the body on a line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a fragment of the frame and sash, showing the means for operating the sliding sash; Fig. 4 illustrates a sectional view on the line H of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 illustrates a sectional view with the parts in different positions of adjustment. Fig. 6 illustrates a detail sectional view of the swinging frame and the means of attachment of the same -to a door.

In these drawings 7 denotes an automobile body and 8 an ordinary automobile top of the folding type.

. It is the purpose of the inventor to supply theordinary folding or foldable top -With a glazed inclosure and the said-inclosure comprises side frames, such the side frame th a plurality of openings there- Specification of Letters Patent;

Patented May so, 1916.

Application filed November 11, 1914. Serial No. 871,509.

in corresponding to the number of glasses or windows to be supplied. As this num-- her is variable, I do not wish to be restricted 1n th1s respect, but I have here shown the said frame as havlng two permanent Windows l0 and 11 and two movable Windows 12 and 13, the latter of which are actuated as appropriate manner, as by the fastenings 14.

The permanent windows 10 and 11 are provlded by forming openings in the side frame and by glazing the said openings in known way, and as the details of-this construction are not a part of the present invention, they will not be described more minutely.

The frame 9 at points above the doors 15 and 16 have openings 17 and 18 respectively, which are guarded under ordinary conditions by the transparent materials 19 and 20 respectively, and these transparent materials may be glass, celluloid or other known product.- Each of the transparent materials is in a sash such as 21 and the inner surface of the frame 9 is provided with guides 22 and 23 in which the sash 21 are slidable so that the said sash may be slid from the positions which they. occupy over the doors to positions in alinement with the permanent windows 12 and 13 are connected to the frame 9v by hinges, such as 26 so that the frames 24 and 25 move with the doors 15 and 16 to permit the passengers to enter or leave the body of the car and as a means for communicating the motion of the doors to the said frames, the frames 24 and 25 each has a cleat 27 thereon which fits in the opening of a t o i is t be understood t t eit er at re- 4 30 to receive a suitable tool for positioning said pin.

Each swinging frame has a notch such as 31 in its edge to receive a plate 32 which is attached to the sliding sash and this plate has an ear 33 constituting a handle by which the sliding sash is manipulated. The sliding sash is held against movement by a hook 33' which swings over the edge of the plate 32, thus locking the sash in its closed position, it being understood that by disengaging the hook from the plate, the sliding sash may be operated.

The brace 34 for the front end of the top is shown in a position parallel with the lower edge of the top, but it is to be noted that said brace 34 may be moved to a position at an angle with relation to the lower edge of the top, whereby the top is in a position to be folded.

From an inspection of the drawing, and from the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the ordinary foldable top may be converted into an inclosed vehicle by applying the side frames to th body and top of an ordinary automobile and that by reariance in the degree of movement of the frame and door, the pin 30 may slide vertically in the slot 29 while moving longitudi= nally of saidslot. If, as in some automobiles, the door does not swing in a true horizontal plane, this provision will be found of value in compensating for the difference of movement of the two parts.

I claim 1. In an automobile, a body and top having an intervening space, frames in the intervening space between the top and body, means for securing the frames to the side of a vehicle, said frames having apertures therein, apertured members hinged above the doors of the body, sashes carried by the apertured members, guides carried by the apertured members and the frames whereby the said sashes are movable to guard or unguard the apertured members, means associated with each door for communicating motion of said door to one of the apertured members, each of said frames being provided with a recess, 'a handle on the sliding sash adapted to enter said recess, and a latch for holding the sliding sash against movement.

' 2. In combination with the body and foldable top of an automobile, an inclosing device fitted under the foldable top and comprising a plurality of panel members and hinged door members, the lower ends of each door member and panel member adapted to overlap the upper edge of the body, a slotted WEBB 6. SWEET.

Witnesses M. I. PFEIFER, Lo'r'rrn E. BARKLEY. 

